Steelers Morning Huddle 5/13/2014
By Kim Myers
Aug 19, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers players huddle during the first half against the Washington Redskins at FedEX Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Steelers season goes all year long so whether we’re breaking down free agency signings, recapping the draft choices, or looking around for mentions of your Black & Gold we’ve got you covered. Here’s what’s being said about your Pittsburgh Steelers around the block.
Tomlin says rookies will get opportunity to start
Long has been the reputation of the Pittsburgh Steelers that talent was developed by drafting rather than acquired via free agency. In recent years, however, the “talent” stayed in their positions getting older each year while the rookies and younger players waited for their chance to step up and step in. That’s not necessarily going to be the case anymore. Teresa Varley of the Steelers site reports that coach Tomlin expects this group of rookies to get opportunities that other draft classes didn’t, if they earn it.
"“It’s not something that’s going to be given to them. They’ll be given an opportunity to earn it. But I do believe that within this group there are some guys that are very capable of doing just that. I think they have a chance to start if they earn it every year. That’s just the reality of it. There have been some years where we’ve had an extremely strong unit and that makes it a tough nut to crack; we’ll see what this unit is made of. I’m not going to prejudge and go into it with any preconceived notions. I’ll let those guys sort themselves out on the grass of Latrobe like we always do.” – Mike Tomlin"
Colbert happy with cornerbacks
One of the biggest criticisms of the Steelers’ 2014 draft is the team not selecting a cornerback until the fifth round. According to ESPN’s Scott Brown, Steelers GM had cornerbacks in mind for the first round pick, but is still happy with the Shazier selection. Colbert says the Steelers had interest in drafting Justin Gilbert or Kyle Fuller, but both were gone by the time the Steelers picked at 15.
What’s to Love/Hate about the Steelers draft
The Trib’s Alan Robinson calls the 2014 Steelers draft one of the “most intriguing classes in recent (Steelers) history”. But that doesn’t mean he likes the entire draft. He lists five things to love about the draft including the speed in players like Shazier and Archer and the updraft to the defense’s front 7 as well as the players who can greatly contribute to Special Teams. His reasons to worry about the draft include players with injury issues and the lack of movement in the rounds by not trading up or down.
What are your thoughts, Steeler Nation? Do you see this rookie class getting more playing time than previous classes? Are you ok with the depth at cornerback? What did you like or not like about the drafting?
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